The educational program at XPONENTIAL Europe is the north star for the advancement of uncrewed systems and autonomy. Every educational session and speaker is selected to help the attendees orient themselves amidst a constantly changing regulatory environment, technological advancements, and integration hurdles.
Sessions are curated for the air, ground, maritime and cyber domains to support a broad range of job roles, experience levels, and market segments. Each learning opportunity is powered by the incredible talent, and vision of experts from within the uncrewed and autonomous systems community.
Congress Committee
Michael Bösinger – Head of Technology Innovation Development & Projects, Vodafone
Alberto Curnis – Researcher, Drones and Advanced Air Mobility, Politecnico di Milano
Koen De Vos – Secretary General, Global UTM Association (GUTMA)
Nina Gullan – Senior Advisor, Air Traffic Organization
Keely Griffith – Vice President of Strategic Programs, AUVSI
Rory Jackson – Deputy Editor, UST Media
Phil Kenul – Chairman, ASTM International F38 Committee on UAS, ASTM International
Andreas Korwes – Head of Brand and Communications, MIRA GmbH, Rheinmetall
Frederic Kracht – Head of Research Group DST, Development Center for Ship Technology and Transport Systems
Anders Martinsen – CEO, UAS Norway
Simon Moss – Publishing Director, Uncrewed Systems Technology
Rob Murray – Chief Innovation Officer, Saab
Kimberly Peicker – Program Manager, AUVSI
Jan Schönberg – Editor-in-Chief, German Drones Magazine & Board Member, UAV DACH
Technical experts, Engineers, and R&D experts are traditionally more interested in our Technical Research & Platform Development and Components, Materials, & Propulsion, which are meant to showcase new capabilities, research, and developments that impact design.
Operational stakeholders are more interested in the Supporting Infrastructure & Operations track, which dives more deeply into the infrastructure and operational requirements for advanced operations and scaling.
Policy stakeholders traditionally participate in the European Drone Forum and Policy & Regulations track where we bring in government and regulatory stakeholders to share recent updates to policy or and laws that will impact systems or operations.
End Users (both commercial and government) are traditionally more interested in our Implementation for End Users track. This track will answer the question of ROI, use cases, collaboration opportunities, and lessons learned from others in the arena.
Startup and Venture Capital stakeholders will engage in XPO+ Launcher on Wednesday, February 19th, which will include a startup competition and investment focused content.
Other audiences – Cybersecurity stakeholders, data management, workforce development and STEM stakeholders, and others who are either developing AI and platforms, or trying to better understand how the data collected can be leveraged.
Automation creates new opportunities for industries, organizations, and governments alike. Many of the technologies can be used cross-domain and cross-sector, and understanding their applications and advantages helps to increase adoption by end users — leading to market growth and increased revenue. Topics include use cases, case studies, success stories and applications across industries and government sectors. Additionally, presentations will include lessons learned from larger commercial end user markets - transportation, public safety, critical infrastructure, disaster reconstruction, agriculture.
This track focuses on the foundational elements that enable the functionality, reliability, and performance of unmanned/uncrewed and automated vehicle systems. Attendees will gain valuable insights into state-of-the-art components such as sensors, actuators, communication systems, propulsion technologies, energy storage solutions, and advanced materials. Discussions will cover optimization strategies, durability enhancements, sustainability considerations, and emerging trends in component and material engineering for unmanned/uncrewed systems.
For the safe and seamless integration of automated systems into society, industry and government stakeholders must work together to develop policies, processes, and frameworks to support the laws that govern these systems and their implementation. Topics will inform the evolving regulatory environment.
To operationalize automated systems, we must develop a plan to turn abstract into reality. The key constructs that will allow for operationalization of automation include establishment of infrastructure, both digital and physical, as well as testing, certification, and standards development, workforce and training, and identification of measurable and actionable outcomes.
This track delves into the transformative role of advanced technologies in safeguarding national borders, enhancing security operations, and mitigating risks to military personnel. This track explores the diverse applications of uncrewed systems in defense, highlighting their contributions to national security strategies and border safety initiatives.
This track delves into cutting-edge research, innovations, and advancements driving the evolution of unmanned/uncrewed and automated vehicle systems. Experts will share insights on next-generation technologies, algorithm development, sensor integration, AI and machine learning applications, models, simulations, and testing methodologies. Sessions will explore the latest trends, challenges, and breakthroughs shaping the future of unmanned/uncrewed systems.
